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Top summer dress sewing patterns for beginners

Now that the sun is finally present a little more, and as
the holiday season really gets underway, it is the perfect time to put together
a cute summer dress. If you are a more experienced sewer looking for a quick
make, or a beginner looking for a pattern that is easy to understand and
assemble then this is the top 5 for you! Plenty of these have found their way
on to my dressmaking
Pinterest board as there are so many awesome variations already out there
for inspiration!

Bettine dress from
Tilly and the Buttons

Definitely one for beginners. This dress has no fastenings
like buttons or zips, and minimal pattern pieces with no darts. It features
customisable sleeve cuff options, a tulip skirt, optional pockets and an
elasticated waistband. This is a pattern that looks different depending on your
fabric choice: I dressed mine up with John Kaldor fabric (and altered the
neckline), but I have seen some beautiful chambray versions that are perfect
for daytime barbecues. I find Tilly’s patterns the most beginner friendly; each
element is clearly explained if you are new to the skill. More experienced
sewers could put this together in half a day.

Anna dress from By
Hand London

This dress is clearly a favourite amongst the sewing
community…there are lots of posts from bloggers who have made Anna dresses. I
think this is because it a flattering pattern for most body shapes, and you
don’t have to worry too much about fitting sleeves or at the hips due to the
design. You can make knee or maxi length versions, and it suits cottons and
rayons, which are perfect for summer. You do need to insert a zip and pleats,
but again being an indie pattern there is a lot of info on how to do this.

Betty dress from Sew
Over It

The Betty is dress is great for summer with its sleeveless V
back and full circle skirt…definite 50s vibes going on here! This dress feels
cool and light to wear, especially if you make it in cotton. You can also buy
add on packs with different necklines and sleeves (if you’re adventurous!…with
the right fabric choice it’s a great one for a wedding (I used Italian silk
chiffon and it was beautiful). Key skills are minimal – inserting a zip and
having the patience to hem a full circle skirt! Again, fitting is easy as it
isn’t tight around the hips, and you can add a belt to cinch in the waist if
needed. The all in one facing takes a little bit of thinking through for
beginners, but is doable.

Wren by Colette

Here’s one for knit fabrics…a faux wrap dress. This is
another quick sew due to the beauty of working with knit fabrics and not having
to finish seams. The key skills for beginners here will be sewing elastic
(though there are easier alternatives on the Colette blog if you prefer). I had
only worked with knit fabrics once and managed this in less than a day, and I
have to say it is also really comfortable too.

No Pattern Maxi Dress

One of the wonderful things about sewing is that you can
make clothes that fit you how you like…in my case this meant making a maxi
dress that fit my 5ft frame (I spent years searching in shops and never found
one that fit). The beauty of this no pattern dress is that it only has two
elasticated channels so doesn’t need fastenings or fitting…just a couple of
rectangles based on your measurements. I experimented with adding channel
casings, though you could easily use a Bettine style waist instead. If you
prefer straps you could also easily sew pretty much anything on. Perfect for a
speedy sew or for a beginner.

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Hi, I'm Laura. Welcome to my journeys with modern, feminine dressmaking; pattern reviews, tips and guides for beginners. I'm a lifelong foodie, so you'll also find some delicious recipes and places to get that foodie fix.